Texas running back Johnathan Gray breaks free from the Iowa State defense for a touchdown in the first quarter. / Reese Strickland, USA TODAY Sports

by Erick Smith, USA TODAY Sports

by Erick Smith, USA TODAY Sports

A release from the Big 12 Conference says its officials in the Texas-Iowa State game were correct in ruling Longhorns running back Johnathan Gray did not fumble on a disputed call Thursday night.

Late in the fourth quarter with Texas trailing by six points, Gray was stopped short of the goal line and an Iowa State player emerged from the pile with the ball. The play was reviewed to determine if the Cyclones should be awarded the ball.

"On this play, the covering official ruled the runner was down and still had control of the ball," the statement from Walt Anderson, the Big 12 supervisor of officials, said. "There is no question the runner ends up on the ground, and there is no question that eventually an Iowa State player ends up with the ball. However, after reviewing the video evidence it is impossible to tell with certainty when the runner loses control of the ball and at that point was he down or not."

Case McCoy scored on a 1-yard run two players later to give Texas a 31-30 lead with under a minute left. The Longhorns then clinched the victory on an interception by Jackson Jeffcoat.

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads expressed his unhappiness with the ruling during his postgame press conference.

"To make a play on the 1-yard line with their backs against the wall -- clear to everybody -- and have it taken away from them ... that are hard to express," Rhoads said.

"You don't just put an arm around a guy and tell him it's O.K. when that happens to him. I'm so proud of the effort my kids gave to win this football game."

The Big 12 also said it is a reviewing a personal foul call on Texas wide receiver Mike Davis, who delivered a low hit to the legs of Cyclones defensive back Deon Broomfield.

That matter is "being addressed in accord with the Conference's Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy."